Latest news with #D6
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Court backs citizenship ban for Afghan people smugglers
An Afghan people smuggler and his nephew who charged migrants £9,000 ($12,190) each to reach the UK have lost their appeal against being stripped of British citizenship. Judges have ruled that the Home Secretary was justified in depriving them of UK nationality on the basis that their people smuggling operation constituted serious organised crime. The penalty puts smuggling on a level with national security threats. The people smuggler and his nephew cannot be named for legal reasons and are referred to as D5 and D6 in court documents. Also involved in their criminal organisation was D6's brother, who is known as D7. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission agreed to strip D5 and D6 of UK citizenship and exclude D7 from Britain, after a hearing in 2023. They took their case to the Court of Appeal but judges Nicholas Green and Elisabeth Laing have now backed the SIAC decision. In their decision their said SIAC 'must take the same approach in cases' in which individuals 'have been deprived of their citizenship on the ground that they have been involved in and/or are likely to continue to be involved in SOC [Serious Organised Crime] as it must take in national security cases'. Priti Patel, who was home secretary at the time, was right to make the decision on the grounds that the presence of all three men was not 'conducive to the public good', the judges ruled. Claimed asylum SIAC was told that D5 first arrived in the UK from Afghanistan in 2001. He was joined by his nephew D6 in 2004 and both were eventually granted British citizenship after claiming asylum. D7 arrived clandestinely in 2007 and also given asylum after he claimed he faced persecution from the Taliban. He was given the right to remain in the UK permanently. They became involved in crime and began to attract the attention of the police, who in 2018 raided their homes where they found £12,000 in cash and 30 mobile phones. The National Crime Agency began an undercover operation involving two officers − codenamed George and Mark − posing as intercontinental lorry drivers who had fallen on hard times during the Covid pandemic. The officers met the brothers in a shop owned by one of them in February 2020 and struck up a conversation in which they told them how Covid was affecting their work. 'D6 ushered George out of the shop and then asked George if he knew anyone who could bring people back into the UK,' according to the three judges who presided over the SIAC hearing. Undercover sting George said that he did and they agreed to discuss it the following week and the two officers met the brothers at a petrol station in September during which D6 told George he wanted him to 'smuggle people from mainland Europe into the UK'. The pair made 'significant financial gain' from the smuggling and 'each migrant would pay some £8,000 to £9,000 to be brought into the country'. Many of those who were smuggled in were children who had been trafficked for the purpose of forced labour and were forced to work for D5. The uncle and nephew left for Kabul, but in the meantime the Home Office, at the request of the NCA, stripped them of their citizenship. D7 was also believed to be involved their operation and he was excluded from the UK while he was also out of the country. After being turned back from returning, D5 and D6 entered the UK clandestinely but were eventually arrested and brought to court. D6 is serving a 10-year sentence for people smuggling and helping his brother enter Britain illegally. His uncle, D5, was sentenced to five years in prison for entering illegally. D7 is believed to be in Finland.
Time Business News
27-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Inside the World of Oil Trading: An Industry Built on Strategy, Secrecy, and Scale
The oil business is a fast-moving, fiercely competitive global force. It fuels economies, powers industries, and influences governments with dramatic impact. From enormous oil fields to private trading desks, the energy market operates with high stakes and relentless speed. Crude oil and refined fuels like EN590 diesel, Jet A1, D6, and LNG are bought and sold daily in staggering volumes. These transactions demand sharp strategies, careful planning, and relentless precision. Oil trades through two primary channels. One is the open market—public exchanges where futures are bought and sold with extreme volatility. The second, quieter path is private trading, where buyers and sellers deal discreetly outside the spotlight. Private oil deals are negotiated off-market for strategic, often sensitive reasons. These transactions move large volumes swiftly, quietly, and directly between trusted parties. They rely heavily on reputation and relationship—more than on contracts alone. In private oil deals, confidentiality isn't optional—it's crucial. Buyers want supply without exposure. Sellers want deals without disruption. Leaks can end negotiations instantly. That's why many players insist on verified brokers, encrypted communication, and fast, secure decision-making. Without these, deals collapse before they start. A skilled broker brings structure to chaotic, crowded markets. They cut through fake offers, endless chains, and miscommunication. They verify documents, vet buyers, and introduce only qualified parties. Every step requires speed, accuracy, and quiet professionalism. Not all brokers are equal. Some overpromise and underdeliver, adding confusion and delay. Others, especially those with mandate access, operate decisively and efficiently. Among the most reliable names, PetroPrivé is occasionally mentioned for its strong track record in discreet petroleum transactions. Known within serious trading circles, they've quietly facilitated successful, confidential deals between real, committed parties. In private oil trading, mandates play an essential role. These authorized representatives speak and act for the buyer or seller. Dealing directly with mandates eliminates risk, builds trust, and drastically reduces wasted time. Without a mandate or end buyer in place, negotiations often stall. Real mandates are rare—and incredibly valuable. The global energy landscape keeps evolving—fast and unpredictably. Conflicts, sanctions, weather events, and policy shifts constantly reshape the oil supply chain. Still, oil demand continues to rise, especially in developing regions. Refined fuels remain vital for transportation, aviation, and industrial growth. Despite renewable energy advances, oil's role remains massive and deeply entrenched. To navigate this unpredictable environment, traders must stay agile and deeply informed. They must also rely on trustworthy partnerships that offer clarity in a noisy, often unreliable market. Oil trading is not for the faint of heart. It rewards those who act quickly, negotiate smartly, and protect every detail. Success depends on timing, intelligence, and the ability to move with both speed and precision. Behind many successful trades, experienced brokers and mandates work persistently in the background—discreetly ensuring deals run smoothly and quietly. In a complex, high-stakes arena like this, it's no surprise that brokers like PetroPrivé occasionally earn a quiet nod of respect—for doing things efficiently, reliably, and above all, discreetly. Disclaimer: The content above is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Always conduct your own due diligence before entering any oil trading agreement. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This founder wants to create the Tesla of bulldozers. Here's the 32-ton prototype.
Ahmed Shubber, 25, started EV bulldozer startup Lumina in 2021. He recently unveiled a prototype called Moonlander, a 32-ton, all-electric bulldozer. He told Business Insider that he wants to take the "Tesla approach" to building his company. Ahmed Shubber, a 25-year-old founder from Connecticut, wants to compete with the Caterpillars of the construction industry by building the Tesla of bulldozers. Shubber's company, Lumina, has been operating in stealth since 2021 and has since grown to a team of 26 people and raised an $8 million seed round, according to the founder. On Wednesday, Shubber demonstrated Lumina's first prototype, the Moonlander, in San Francisco. In an interview with Business Insider, Shubber said he spent around $3 million building the all-electric, 32-ton bulldozer. The tractor was assembled in the UK, with parts coming in from nearly 200 different suppliers, he said. David Wright, Lumina's head of UK operations, told BI that the Moonlander has the same footprint as Caterpillar's D6, a medium-sized bulldozer, but can push the same amount of load as a D9, a much larger tractor. Wright said the blade attached to the Moonlander's body at the Wednesday demonstration is the same size as the blade typically seen on a D9 tractor. "A D6 could not push that blade," he said. "We can have that blade full of material, full dozing seven to nine cubic meters of material, for eight to 10 hours." Wright said a charging station would be required on a project site. "It can charge at 300 kilowatts, so we can go from zero to full in an hour and a quarter," he said. "Even if you spend all morning heavy dozing and you're a bit worried about how much juice you've used — well, your operators are going to take a union-mandated lunch break, right? Plug it in, and in 30 minutes, you've put 50% of power back in again," Wright said. Shubber told BI that he's taking the "Tesla approach" by building everything from the hardware and software stack in-house, including what Lumina hopes will be the Moonlander's autonomous capabilities. "If you look at every great company that's tackling autonomy — Waymo, Tesla — they built their own hardware stack from scratch," he said. "Waymo built all their sensors from scratch. Tesla built a car from scratch. And I think if we really want to have huge market penetration, I think you need to follow the same approach and not just slap on off-the-shelf parts." The Wednesday demonstration did not show the Moonlander operating independently, but Shubber said the bulldozer is equipped with Nvidia chips, so the Moonlander can be equipped with a full autonomous sensor suite when it's ready. Lumina's origin has the inklings of the classic Silicon Valley startup story. Shubber, who has no formal background in robotics or construction, told BI that he started his company inside his parents' garage with a hand-me-down John Deere garden tractor. He said he got the equipment for free on Facebook Marketplace and retrofitted it with sensors himself to make it operate remotely. For funding, Shubber said he messaged about 3,000 potential angel investors, and about 10 responded. His first angel investor was Peter Reinhardt, who sold his company Segment, a customer data management platform, to Twilio for $3.2 billion in 2020. Shubber said Reinhardt wrote him a $20,000 check, which allowed the founder to buy a skid steer tractor and automate it. "Ahmed reached out to me years ago on Twitter which I usually ignore, but he was incredibly persistent and showing progress on an extraordinarily thin personal budget," Reinhardt said in an email to BI. "It reminded me of hardware projects I had in college. Maybe a bit too much naive, confidence, and bravado, but I think I had that too ... I figured he deserved a solid shot and I wrote him that first check." Reinhardt added that Shubber has made a lot of progress on the Moonlander and that the founder has a "massive vision." Shubber said he's now looking to raise $20 million to $40 million for its Series A round. He said his revenue target in the next 24 months is $100 million. Shubber said Lumina's business model won't be focused on selling equipment. Instead, it will be the company that performs the excavation on project sites. The start date goal is January 2026. Shunner said Lumina's next prototype is already in the works: a 100-ton electric excavator called Blade Runner. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
This founder wants to create the Tesla of bulldozers. Here's the 32-ton prototype.
Ahmed Shubber, a 25-year-old founder from Connecticut, wants to compete with the Caterpillars of the construction industry by building the Tesla of bulldozers. Shubber's company, Lumina, has been operating in stealth since 2021 and has since grown to a team of 26 people and raised an $8 million seed round, according to the founder. On Wednesday, Shubber demonstrated Lumina's first prototype, the Moonlander, in San Francisco. In an interview with Business Insider, Shubber said he spent around $3 million building the all-electric, 32-ton bulldozer. The tractor was assembled in the UK, with parts coming in from nearly 200 different suppliers, he said. David Wright, Lumina's head of UK operations, told BI that the Moonlander has the same footprint as Caterpillar's D6, a medium-sized bulldozer, but can push the same amount of load as a D9, a much larger tractor. Wright said the blade attached to the Moonlander's body at the Wednesday demonstration is the same size as the blade typically seen on a D9 tractor. "A D6 could not push that blade," he said. "We can have that blade full of material, full dozing seven to nine cubic meters of material, for eight to 10 hours." Wright said a charging station would be required on a project site. "It can charge at 300 kilowatts, so we can go from zero to full in an hour and a quarter," he said. "Even if you spend all morning heavy dozing and you're a bit worried about how much juice you've used — well, your operators are going to take a union-mandated lunch break, right? Plug it in, and in 30 minutes, you've put 50% of power back in again," Wright said. Shubber told BI that he's taking the "Tesla approach" by building everything from the hardware and software stack in-house, including what Lumina hopes will be the Moonlander's autonomous capabilities. "If you look at every great company that's tackling autonomy — Waymo, Tesla — they built their own hardware stack from scratch," he said. "Waymo built all their sensors from scratch. Tesla built a car from scratch. And I think if we really want to have huge market penetration, I think you need to follow the same approach and not just slap on off-the-shelf parts." The Wednesday demonstration did not show the Moonlander operating independently, but Shubber said the bulldozer is equipped with Nvidia chips, so the Moonlander can be equipped with a full autonomous sensor suite when it's ready. Humble beginnings Lumina's origin has the inklings of the classic Silicon Valley startup story. Shubber, who has no formal background in robotics or construction, told BI that he started his company inside his parents' garage with a hand-me-down John Deere garden tractor. He said he got the equipment for free on Facebook Marketplace and retrofitted it with sensors himself to make it operate remotely. For funding, Shubber said he messaged about 3,000 potential angel investors, and about 10 responded. His first angel investor was Peter Reinhardt, who sold his company Segment, a customer data management platform, to Twilio for $3.2 billion in 2020. Shubber said Reinhardt wrote him a $20,000 check, which allowed the founder to buy a skid steer tractor and automate it. "Ahmed reached out to me years ago on Twitter which I usually ignore, but he was incredibly persistent and showing progress on an extraordinarily thin personal budget," Reinhardt said in an email to BI. "It reminded me of hardware projects I had in college. Maybe a bit too much naive, confidence, and bravado, but I think I had that too ... I figured he deserved a solid shot and I wrote him that first check." Reinhardt added that Shubber has made a lot of progress on the Moonlander and that the founder has a "massive vision." Shubber said he's now looking to raise $20 million to $40 million for its Series A round. He said his revenue target in the next 24 months is $100 million. Shubber said Lumina's business model won't be focused on selling equipment. Instead, it will be the company that performs the excavation on project sites. The start date goal is January 2026. Shunner said Lumina's next prototype is already in the works: a 100-ton electric excavator called Blade Runner.
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
End-terrace Victorian home in Rathmines with garden-level apartment for €2.25m
Address : 6 Belgrave Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 Price : €2,250,000 Agent : Mullery O'Gara View this property on The configuration of number 6 Belgrave Road in Rathmines leaves it open to different living situations. The two-storey-over-basement redbrick has the main home set out over two floors and a garden apartment below, allowing for scenarios such as an independent living space for elderly relatives or young adults, or a rental for extra income. The main entrance to the Victorian end-terrace is up the flight of granite steps. Behind the framed front door is a generous hallway with black-and-white floor tiles. To the right are the two main reception rooms. The decor has been kept clean and simple to allow the original features such as cornicing, marble fireplaces and the shuttered sash windows to do the talking. Previous owners added a double extension at the back, which brings the total floor area of the house to 279sq m (3,000sq ft). Steps down from the hall lead to the kitchen, which is fitted with modern Shaker-style units. There is a balcony at the back and steps down to the south-facing garden. Upstairs the cornicing changes from the elegant and ornate mouldings in the livingrooms to an intricate modillion block design. There is a large bedroom on the hall return that comes with plumbing if new owners want to use this space to create a large family bathroom. READ MORE Hallway Drawingroom Diningroom Kitchen Main bedroom Bedroom On the first floor are three more double bedrooms, all lit up by beautiful sash windows. At the centre are two shower rooms back to back that mirror each other in design. The last bedroom in the main house, with an apex skylight for stargazers, is on the first-floor return. The apartment at basement level has its own entrance from the front garden. It has been completely converted to exist as a separate home with a large porch inside with storage and a coat stand, and double doors that lead into an inner hallway. At the front is a double bedroom with built-in wardrobes and an en-suite shower room. At the end of the hall is an open-plan room that has a fully fitted kitchen to one side and a livingroom with open fire on the other. Open-plan living space in garden apartment At the back, under a glazed roof, is the bright dining area. Doors from here open out to a private courtyard. Behind the kitchen is a second bedroom, also with doors out to the patio. There is a bathroom off the hall, as well as fitted storage units. Number 6, which is Ber exempt, is on the market through Mullery O'Gara, guiding €2.25 million. The road is within walking distance of both Ranelagh and Rathmines villages, but on a sunny weekday morning, it feels incredibly quiet, with the only sound coming from the Holy Trinity church bells at the end of the road. Recent sales on the road include number 18, which had a similar layout and sold for €1.95 million, and number 28, which didn't have the added floor space from an extension, which sold for €1.725 million, according to the Property Price Register.
